Due to its warm weather and alluvial soil, the South became an agricultural place. The Old South became known for its complex social structure. The different groups that made up this society were the yeoman farmers, free blacks, landless whites, slave-owners, and slaves.The landowners bought African slaves to work their massive plantations due to a labor shortage. Even little farmers were hired for slave labor. As this place progressed, businesses were also developed. And these industries further hired landless whites and slaves. In urban areas, slaves were usually hired for domestic service while others worked in food processing, manufacturing, and transportation.
